Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/29/16

“You can waste your lives drawing lines, or you can live your life crossing them.”   —   Shonda Rhimes

(On the surface, this sounds like some great quote of maverick individualism.  But, when you think on it, it’s actually a little silly and self-serving.  There are people in this world who live to make some order of it.  The world certainly needs a good dose of order, so are these people wasting their lives?  Also, if it weren’t for the people who do draw the world’s lines . . . what would the mavericks have to cross?  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 12/29/16

Visual Description:  Seashore spin.

TAIRO  =  RATIO,  ASTEE  =  TEASE,  WERFUC  =  CURFEW,  COLISA  =  SOCIAL   —   Giving us:  ATOASECRWSCAL

Clue/Question:  They were headed downhill and decided to stop pedaling now that the – – –

Answer:  COAST WAS CLEAR

(A very visual Jumble today!  If our friend Vijay was still commenting he might express a bit of difficulty in solving this one.  Maybe more than 10 seconds!  It wasn’t super difficult, but it did rely somewhat on the visual of the bike/hiking/jogging path being along the shoreline.  No new clue words today, but two of the jumbles came up as new.  Mr. Hoyt has used both “tairo” and “astee” before.  The answer letter layout was decent, but I think it might have been a bit more cryptic had both the five and six letter words been flipped.  That would have given us:  ASEATOSCALCRW.  But, you all know how yer uncle likes to nitpick . . . sometimes.  The cartoon also was a little lacking.  Ones like these can always benefit from the classic sinking sailboat on the horizon.  I know the holidays can be a little tiring, but c’mon guys!  LOL!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/28/16

“As far as I’m concerned, “whom” is a word that was invented to make everyone sound like a butler.“   —   Calvin Trillin

(I’m not familiar with Mr. Trillin, but I like the way that he thinks!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 12/28/16

Visual Description:  Mean Girls.

KLIYS  =  SILKY,  ZLTIG  =  GLITZ,  MURNEB  =  NUMBER,  NORDAP  =  PARDON   —   Giving us:  SILGLINBEPDN

Clue/Question:  “Harry Potter” fans couldn’t put the books down, finding them – – –

Answer:  SPELLBINDING

(“She’s a witch!  How do you know she’s a witch?  She turned me into a newt!  I got better.”  No, these aren’t lines from any “Harry Potter” movie.  Hey, we had a “new” clue word today, in “glitz”.  We’ve had glitzy before, but this seems to be the first time for glitz.  I hope our good friend, ralis95, is paying attention today!  The world famous clue word database needs a little updating.  Two of the other jumbles came up as new, but we’ve seen “murneb” before.  The answer letter layout was masterful.  The cartoon was very cute.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR